THERE has been widespread condemnation of the latest cuts to police services in West Fife after the confirmation of the closure of Oakley police station to public inquiries.

The counter services at Oakley will close next month despite a local campaign and there are cuts to the hours Dalgety Bay station public desk will be open.

Dunfermline MSP Cara Hilton, said, “This announcement is a real blow for residents of Oakley and the West Fife Villages who will now no longer have easy, face-to-face contact with their local police officers.

“Coming after the shocking news 101 calls will no longer be dealt with in Fife from next April, this is a step on the road to a centralised police force and away from the local community policing which has delivered real results in our area.

“The single police force was meant to put more bobbies on the beat but instead more and more police officers are finding themselves sat behind desks.

“Instead, under the SNP, we are seeing a move away from local policing, as services are centralised and police officers are being taken off our streets to fill in for civilian staff who’ve been axed. Our communities deserve better.” Willie Rennie, Scottish Lib Dem leader and MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, also delivered a scathing verdict.

“We feared the centralisation of police – effectively having Strathclyde Police taking over the whole of Scotland – would result in asset-stripping of local services,” he said.

“These facilities have been built up over generations. Some may argue that they’re not as valuable as they used to be but if you get rid of these facilities they will be very difficult to recreate.

“You’ve got the withdrawal of police from front-facing connection with the community.

"Control rooms being closed down, the court service being cut in other parts of Fife. It’s almost like a retreat from the engagement we’ve been used to and once that’s gone it’s very difficult to get it back.

“The nature of policing is changing dramatically. The number of stop and searches has skyrocketed, especially for kids.

"It’s a change from policing by consent to a ‘them-and-us’ attitude which is extremely dangerous.

“The police in Scotland have always worked in partnership with the public. If you have any alienation because of changes in tactics, the style of policing, the withdrawal of police stations, it changes the way the whole thing works.

“For all those reasons, it’s a retrograde step and I think they’ll come to regret it in West Fife.” Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson said, “Local policing remains the bedrock of the new service. The benefits of a single service are already being felt right across the country with national specialist resource now meaning our local community team resource is further strengthened and supported.

“This means all areas have access to specialist expertise and equipment whenever and wherever required and can draw flexibly on extra officers and specialist skills when local demand requires it.

“We have listened to all the views put forward and made changes to reflect this but an effective, modern policing service must evolve to reflect the communities we serve.

“These changes allow us to ensure more of the right people with the right skills are available at the right time and in the right places to servce communities in a manner that reflects the way people now live their lives.

“The review of public counters has contributed to this with Police Scotland committed to maximising police officers on the street and in communities working to keep people safe and to provide the high standards of service the public expects.”